If someone does not know how to handle with the money, then whatever he does will be a shortcut to poverty. I can only agree that gambling is a short cut to poverty, as it accepts any bets and allows to bet as much as you want; it does not have any protection mechanism. But name it as a real short cut? I think you gamble and you are not poor. I gamble and not poor. Many here are the same, not poor. If it was a real short cut, we would be already poor. Dont you think?
If we don't gamble and use that money to invest or do business but then fail, we will also fall into debt and become poor. Do we call investment and business a shortcut to poverty?
Indeed, whether we are poor or not is due to the way we manage money and has nothing to do with gambling and it is not its fault. Gambling, investing, and business are just means for us to entertain and make money... and whether we make money or not is up to us, don't blame them because they are just means.